[Peace-discuss] Kucinich Peace Initiative

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

Washington for Kucinich
For Immediate Release: December 24, 2003

KUCINICH RELEASING WORLD PEACE INITIATIVE


Democratic Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich is releasing a
multi-part
World Peace Initiative.  The first piece, being released today, addresses
the elimination of nuclear weapons through a 12-point program.

Today Kucinich released this statement:

"The holiday season is a time of common aspiration for peace on Earth,
but
this holiday season the Bush Administration is taking us in the opposite
direction, undermining international efforts to stop the spread of
nuclear
arms.  Our government is now developing new nuclear weapons.  The
Administration is putting the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty in
jeopardy, thereby increasing the likelihood of the use of nuclear
weapons.

"According to an article published yesterday in the Los Angeles Times,
diplomats and non-proliferation experts are saying that the Bush
Administration's efforts to develop new nuclear weapons while 
simultaneously condemning such development by other countries creates a
double standard which will undermine efforts to curb nuclear arms.

"In this season of peace, the Administration is conjuring nuclear war. 
This is why I feel it's imperative to announce the first part of a World
Peace Initiative, one dealing with the threat of nuclear weapons to world
peace."

What follows is the first part of the World Peace Initiative:

Part 1: Nuclear Weapons

As President, Dennis Kucinich will work to achieve the following steps to
promote world peace:

1. Leading the way toward the complete elimination of nuclear weapons
from
the earth. Kucinich's goal as president will be a steady movement toward
complete nuclear disarmament.

2. Renouncing first-strike policy.  Kucinich will set aside the Bush
Administration's Nuclear Posture Review, which is a strategy for nuclear
proliferation.  He will assure the world community that the United States
will not be the first to use nuclear weapons.

3. Cancellation of all U.S. nuclear weapons programs.  Kucinich will work
to put an end to the development of any new nuclear weapons, to the
manufacture of any nuclear weapons, and to any plans to test nuclear
weapons.

4. Stopping the use of all depleted uranium munitions.  Kucinich will
order an end to the United States' use of depleted uranium munitions.  He
will lead an international effort to recover depleted uranium.  He will
promote environmental remediation.  He will develop a program to provide
care and restitution for people suffering as a result of the United
States' use of depleted uranium munitions, nuclear weapons, nuclear
weapons production, nuclear testing, and uranium mining.

5. Banning all nuclear weapons testing by the United States.  Kucinich
will enact a new policy banning nuclear testing and will work to ratify
the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

6. Opening talks with all nuclear powers.  Kucinich will begin new talks
with Russia, China, Britain, France, India, Israel, and Pakistan to
develop a plan aimed at the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.  The
first step will be to suspend all "readiness" levels of nuclear weapons
systems, including those of the United States.

7. Encouraging participation in the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. 
Kucinich will encourage all nations to actively participate in the
Nuclear
Non Proliferation Treaty, and will meet personally with the leaders of
India, Israel, and Pakistan to request that they sign as non-nuclear
weapons states.  He will also meet personally with Kim Jong Il to
encourage North Korea to re-join the community of nations through
reaffirming its participation as a non-nuclear weapons state.

8. Discouraging nations from acquiring nuclear weapons.  Kucinich will
work with the nations of North Korea, Iran, Algeria, Sudan, Syria, and
others to discourage the acquisition of nuclear weapons capability.

9. Reinstating the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and Canceling the
Ballistic Missile Defense.  Kucinich will work with Russian President
Vladimir Putin to reinstate the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.  The
treaty
prevents both the United States and Russia from developing nationwide ABM
defense systems and limits employment of new ABM technologies. 
Consequently, the ballistic missile defense program will be cancelled.

10. Meeting all requirements of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.
Kucinich will work to ensure that the United States leads the world again
in fulfilling all requirements of the treaty.  This means the United
States must negotiate the complete elimination of its nuclear arsenal.

11. Committing to greatly expanding inspections.  Kucinich will work with
the 188 signatories of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty and the
International Atomic Energy Agency to greatly expand the use of
inspections in all nations.

12. Leading an international effort to bring terrorists to justice. 
Kucinich will cause the United States to participate in a cooperative
world effort to track down terrorists who are seeking to acquire nuclear
weapons capability.


For information about the National campaign: http://www.kucinich.us
For information about the Washington State campaign:
http://www.kucinich-washington.org
For Rep. Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm

National Contact: David Swanson 301-772-0210, cell 202-329-7847, fax
301-772-7293, swanson at kucinich.us
Washington Contact: Patty Kuderer 206.910.2422
campaign at kucinich-washington.org, or
Gerri Haynes 425.822.5990 iggydog at aol.com